Today's best photos: From a fake Coup d'Etat to a robot spaceplane

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

People in military costume take part in a fake coup d'etat during a traditional festival known as 'The Floured Ones' in the village of Ibi, Spain. EPA

Sara Sorribes Tormo of Team Spain plays against Beatriz Haddad Maia of Team Brazil during the 2024 United Cup in Perth, Australia. Getty Images

An ice sculpture of the Irkut MC-21 300 mid-range passenger aircraft at a festival at the All-Russian Exhibition Centre in Moscow. EPA

Brandin Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors and R J Hampton of the Miami Heat contest a rebound at Chase Centre in San Francisco, California. Getty Images

A woman carries figures of Baby Jesus during a procession for the Day of the Holy Innocents in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador. EPA

Afghan horsemen from the Baghlan (in blue) and Sar-e Pol teams compete during the fifth Buzkashi League in Kabul. AFP

Hindu holy men during evening prayers on the bank of Sarayu river in Ayodhya, India. EPA

The US military's secretive X-37B robot spaceplane lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on its seventh mission to orbit, the vehicle's first launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Reuters

More from The National:

Thursday's best photos: From the Grand Mosque in Mosul to a cruise ship in Malta

Wednesday's best photos: From Art in the Eastern Mangroves to a swim in the North Sea

Tuesday's best photos: From salsa in Cali to sailing in Sydney

Monday's best photos: Midnight mass, from Chandigarh to Surabaya

Sunday's best photos: from an inflatable Santa to a bull race in Sumatra